Anna “Anne” P. O’Lear

Anna “Anne” P. O’Lear, 88, formerly of Hometown and Conyngham, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Saturday, June 22, 2013, at Fritzingertown Senior Living Community in Drums.

Born Oct. 22, 1924, in Hazleton, she was a daughter of the late Thomas and Anna (Kaschak) Matas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. O'Lear Jr., with whom she shared 18 years of marriage prior to his death in 1966.

Anna was an honors graduate of Hazleton High School, Class of 1941, graduating at the age of 16. In 1945, she graduated from Hazleton State Hospital School of Nursing, where she was the president of her graduating class. She met her husband during her nursing career. In addition to her career in nursing, she also was involved in the family business, O'Lear's Catering Service.

Anna devoted her life to raising a caring family. She was very proud of her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments, and enjoyed her time most when spent with her family.

Her Catholic faith was very important to her and her devotion to Jesus through the Blessed Mother and the rosary led her to make pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Yugoslovia; Fátima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; and Guadalupe, Mexico. Additionally, she made two trips to the Holy Land. She was a member of St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church in Conyngham.

In addition to her travels, Anna enjoyed playing cards, board games and crocheting afghans for her family. She especially enjoyed attending her sons' musical performances and grandchildren's sporting events.

She is survived by her six children: Joanne Kennett and her husband, Peter; Joseph O'Lear and his wife, Sue; Mary Beth O'Lear; Thomas O'Lear; Lynne Miller and her husband, Robert; and Jeffrey O'Lear and his wife, Beverly; her grandchildren: Ethan Kennett, Chapin Kennett, Lauren O'Lear, Jason Miller, Erin (Miller) Connelly, Ryan Miller and Megan Miller; her great-granddaughter, Lila Kennett; her sisters: Helen Nabity and her husband, Stanley; and Bernadine Wanek and her husband, Thomas; her sister-in—law, Elizabeth Ann Pavelko; her brother-in-law, Emerick O'Lear; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Anna's children and grandchildren will cherish all of the special times and memorable moments they each shared with their mother and "Gran." Widowed at an early age, she was a dedicated, caring mother who possessed a rare gift of letting her children know they were special to her in a way that was unique to them. Her loving and caring nature and her strong Catholic faith will carry on in all who were honored to know her.

The family is especially grateful to her cousins, James Kaschak, Andrew Mattey and James Serenshock, who made many visits and spent time with Anna during the past several years.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 27, and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 28, at the Butler Chapel of Krapf and Hughes Funeral Home, 530 W. Butler Drive, Drums. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. John Bosco Church, Conyngham.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, 1201 N. Church St., Suite 403, Hazle Township, PA 18202; or the Wilstie Center at the Historic Castle (the former Hazleton High School), toward a seat dedicated in her name, c/o The Castle Fund, 12 E. Broad St., Hazleton, PA 18201.